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Over the past few decades, interest in minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has increased tremendously due to its core principle of minimizing approach-related injury while providing outcomes similar to traditional open spine procedures. With technical and technological advancements, MISS has expanded its utility not only to simple spinal stenosis, but also to complex spinal pathologies such as metastasis, trauma, or adult spinal deformity. In this article, we review the techniques and technology in MISS and discuss the indications, benefits, and limitations of MISS.
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Objectives@#This study analyzed the diagnostic and therapeutic usefulness of selective nerve root block (SNRB) in patients with spinal stenosis who show inconsistencies between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical findings (e.g., dermatomes).Summary of Literature Review: MRI is known to be highly accurate for diagnosing spinal stenosis, but few studies have investigated the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for spinal canal stenosis. In addition, the most suitable treatment of patients with inconsistent clinical and MRI findings has not been established. @*Methods@#This single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted among 93 patients treated between January 2013 and December 2018, who underwent at least two SNRBs for single-level spinal stenosis on MRI with clinical discrepancies. Seventeen patients who were diagnosed with other causes of pain (e.g., spondylolisthesis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, lower leg arterial occlusion) were excluded. The first SNRB targeted the lesion found on MRI. One week later, patients were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and a second procedure was performed on the dermatome-indicated level if there was no improvement. VAS scores were also obtained 3 months after the procedure. @*Results@#In total, 45 patients had central stenosis and 31 patients had foraminal stenosis. The average VAS score before the SNRB was 7.4±1.4. After the first procedure, the average VAS score was 5.2±2.6. After the second procedure, the average VAS score was 2.4±1.3, and after 3 months, it was 3.6±1.9. Of the patients with foraminal stenosis, 77.4% did not respond to the first block (based on MRI), but responded well to the second procedure (based on clinical symptoms) (p<0.05). @*Conclusions@#SNRB targeting the level corresponding to clinical symptoms may be useful for locating the symptomatic nerve root and providing pain relief in patients with foraminal stenosis on MRI with discordant clinical findings.
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PURPOSE: This study was conducted in order to evaluate effect and efficiency of selective spinal nerve root block for neuropathic pain patients with lower leg radiating pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 113 patients were evaluated and follow-up periods were a minimum of 12 months. They were divided into two groups: group A included 41 patients with neuropathic pain and group B included 72 patients with simple lower leg radiating pain. RESULTS: Fourteen (34.1%) patients in group A and 45 (62.5%) patients in group B had favorable results for selective spinal nerve block (p<0.05). Visual analog scale (VAS) was improved from 7.57 to 5.23 at 12 months in group A and from 7.11 to 3.49 at 12 months in group B. CONCLUSION: The initial treatment period for group A was significantly later than in group B. For patients with neuropathic pain and radiculopathy, early assessment was recommended and early selective spinal nerve block could be a good treatment option for neuropathic pain patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Follow-Up Studies , Leg , Neuralgia , Radiculopathy , Spinal Nerve Roots , Spinal Nerves , Visual Analog ScaleABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To analyze serum markers in proximal femur fracture patients, which are known to be accompanied with osteophorosis or metabolic diseases, and consider it as predictive factor and to study how it affects on the fracture form. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vit. D3 known as serum marker of Vit. D, 25(OH)D, and 1,25(OH)2D of 152 patients from April, 2013 to March, 2014 who visited our hospital and diagnosed as proximal femur fracture(Femur neck fracture 73, Intertrochanteric fracture 79) were analyzed. Also, serum calcium level corrected by serum protein, phosphate, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, estradiol, IGF-1, and PTH were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Femur neck fracture group showed significantly low value of D3, 25(OH)D, and 1,25(OH)2D (P-value<0.05) as the values were 37.72+/-7.21 pg/mL, 27.05+/-8.43 ng/mL, 25.05+/-6.78 pg/mL in femur neck fracture group, and 40.36+/-6.97 pg/mL, 29.54+/-9.12 ng/mL, 28.87+/-7.43 pg/mL in intertrochanteric fracture group respectively. The number of patients who were diagnosed as hypovitaminosis D. due to serum 25(OH)D value lower than 30ng/ml were significantly high in femur neck fracture group as the numbers were 56 in femur neck fracture, and 44 in intertrochanteric fracture. Serum calcium level corrected by serum protein, phosphate, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, estradiol, IGF-1 and PTH level showed no significant difference between two groups. CONCLUSION: Serum 25(OH)D level was decreased in proximal femur fracture patiens, and was lower as the patient was older and BMD was lower. Therefore it is thought that proximal femur fracture is affected by vitamin D metabolism.